The UAB Fermentation Pilot Plant, located at the School of Engineering, recently remodeled its facilities to improve operational capacity in the processes. The upgrades, with a cost of around 100,000 euros and were financed entirely by the plant itself, allow for a more optimised and safe use of the space and available resources.
The main goals of the upgrades were to reorganise spaces and improve the available services, particularly with regard to supplies such as service water (hot water, cooling, operating water), steam and other utilities. In this sense, a high-rise service distribution network with Plug and Play connections was implemented. This new configuration allows for service outlets to be distributed according to the specific location of the reactors and other pilot equipment on the island, without dependence on wall connections and facilitating safe access to the equipment by the operators.
The pilot plant, located in a laboratory of the Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, aims to develop on a semi-industrial scale products obtained from the culture of cells and microorganisms of bacteria, fungi and yeasts, genetically modified or not. The plant serves both UAB research staff and staff from other centres, institutes and companies, as well as external researchers, and is currently accredited as a TECNIO centre.
At the head of the pilot plant is Marina Guillén, lecturer of the department, who was recently appointed to replace lecturer Glòria González after she retired.
